Board, Executive Council, & Staff

Staff  |  Executive Council  |  State Board of Directors

Staff

Benjamin Clapper  |  Kacie Hampton  |  Margaret Johnson  |  Ryan Verret

Benjamin Clapper
Executive Director

Benjamin Clapper is the current Executive Director of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation.  Louisiana Right to Life, established in 1970, works through education, activism, legislation, and service to restore the right to life in Louisiana by opposing abortion, euthanasia, and other life destroying actions. 

On the collegiate level, Benjamin actively worked with Students for Life of America and went on to found Louisiana Students for Life (LSL).  LSL, founded in 2005, networks, educates, and activates the pro-life students in Louisiana and the greater Southeast.  Clapper remains the Chairman of Louisiana Students for Life.

Clapper speaks on various pro-life subjects throughout Louisiana and the Southeast.

Benjamin graduated from Loyola University New Orleans as the Ignatian Award winner for Outstanding Male Graduate.  He is married to Kristen Clapper, another seasoned pro-life activist who works as a music therapist.  Their first daughter, Kate, was born on February 8th, 2009, and their second child, Mary Rose was born in August of 2011.

• Email: bclapper@prolifelouisiana.org

Kacie Hampton
Youth Programs Director

As Youth Programs Director, Kacie Hampton coordinates all of the youth outreach activities of Louisiana Right to Life, including Louisiana Camp Joshua, the Joshua Leadership Institute, the Geaux Forth Rally in Washington DC, and much more.

Kacie is an alumnae of Mount Carmel Academy and received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana State University in 2010. During her years at LSU, Kacie was the student President and Development Director of Louisiana Students for Life while in college. In 2008, she worked as the Development Intern at Students for Life of America in Washington, D.C. She continues to work with Louisiana Students for Life through her position.

Email: khampton@prolifelouisiana.org

Margaret Johnson
Communications & Development Coordinator

Margaret Johnson joined Louisiana Right to Life as the Communications and Development Coordinator in 2011. Margaret coordinates fundraising efforts, administers organization websites and social media, and works to promote Louisiana Right to Life's programs through advertisements and other outlets. A graduate at Louisiana State University, Margaret holds a Bachelor's of Science in Management with a concentration in Human Resources from the E.J. Ourso College of Business. During her time at LSU, she frequently volunteered with Louisiana Students for Life and LSU Students for Life and was involved in other local pro-life ministry. After graduation, Margaret was an administrative employee at a Baton Rouge non-profit before taking her position with Louisiana Right to Life.

Email: mjohnson@prolifelouisiana.org

Ryan Verret
Center for Medical Ethics, Director

Ryan Verret joins Louisana Right to Life to coordinate the organization's new "Center for Medical Ethics".  The Center for Medical Ethics serves as LARTL's arm in fighting to protect the vulnerable born from both direct killing and denial of lifesaving medical treatment, food and fluids through both education and legislation across the state.

Ryan, a native of Breaux Bridge, completed graduate work in Theology, Bioethics, and Clinical Psychology. He has worked several years in Palliative and Hospice Care administration as well as in the Department of Health and Hospitals. The highlight of his training was working within the Missionaries of Charity AIDS Hospice in Washington, DC.

He is married to Mary-Rose Verret and lives in Breaux Bridge, LA . They have two children, Azelie and Andre. Ryan and Mary Rose are also highly involved in marriage preperation and natural family planning instruction.  They have given couples retreats, been on Life-on-the-Rock (EWTN), and are trained leaders for Theology of the Body - Gods Plan for a Joy-filled Marriage.

Ryan will lead the Louisiana Right to Life Lafayette office currently located on the beautiful grounds of John Paul the Great Academy (www.JPGAcademy.org) at 1522 Carmel Avenue Lafayette, LA 70501.

Email: rverret@prolifelouisiana.org

Executive Council

Under the guidance and election of the State Board of Directors, the Executive Council of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation meets often with the staff of the Federation to discuss and develop the daily activities of the Federation.

William Watkins
President

William "Bill" Watkins was elected Vice President of Louisiana Right to Life Federation in September 2007.

Watkins is a pas President of Terrebonne-Lafourche Right to Life Committee. Watkins is a life-long resident of Houma where he lives with his wife of 29 years, Elizabeth. She is secretary of Terrebonne-Lafourche RTL, and the two together have logged many hours of right to life fundraising and presentations.

He practices law in both federal and state courts around Louisiana with the firm of Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell & Watkins. They have 4 daughters, and two grandchildren. He credits his involvement in the pro-life cause to his mom, Shirley Watkins, who devoted many years of service and prayers.

Celie Clark
Vice President

Celie returns to active duty in the Federation after years of parish ministry.  She and her husband, Dan, founded the Terrebonne/LaFourche Chapter of Right to Life during their 5 year stay in Houma.  She served as Federation President and Chairperson for the National Right to Life Convention hosted in New Orleans in 1987. 

Presently, she resides in Madisonville with her husband and 5 children.  Celie is employed as the Director of Religious Education at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Covington. 

Welcome home, Celie!

Robert E. Winn
Treasurer

Peg Kenny
Executive Secretary

Peg Kenny has been a motivating force behind the operations of Louisiana Right to Life for the past twenty years. Heavily involved in both the Louisiana and national legislature, she is recognized for her years of work in promoting and passing pro-life legislation.

Separate from her involvement in LARTL, Peg is the Director of the Louisiana Pro-Life Council, which acts as the Respect Life Office for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Sharon Ryan Rodi
Delegate to the National Right to Life Board of Directors

Michelle Gorney
At-Large Director

Michelle Gorney has been involved with LARTL for over 20 years when she and her husband, Chuck, founded St. Tammany Right to Life. Michelle has been a pro life speaker on many occasions and has attended NRTL Conventions and the National March for Life several times.

Michelle recently ended 4 years as LARTL Federation President and currently serves as Secretary of St. Tammany Right to Life. She works as a mother and Nurse in St. Tammany Parish.

W. "Al" Krotoski, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H
At-Large Director & Medical Advisor

Dr. W. "Al" Krotoski has supported - and defended - the pro-life perspective since his medical school days. Although now retired from formal practice, he has credentials in medicine, medical science (immunology), medical research (Nobel nominee) and public health (M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.), completing a 30-year career with the U.S. Public Health Service in these fields.

Dr. Krotoski is Co-Founder and President of The Hippocratic Resource, a statewide organization of physicians, nurses, dentists, scientists and other health professionals who promote the life-respecting tenets of the Hippocratic Oath. He also serves on the Baton Rouge Diocesan Respect Life Board and as the medical advisor for the Gevernor's Program on Abstinence..

A former President of the LARTL Federation, Dr. Krotoski continues to testify before the Louisiana State Legislature on Culture of Life matters.

State Board of Directors

Louisiana Right to Life Federation's State Board of Directors is a state-wide board comprised of representatives from each right to life chapter in Louisiana. The State Board of Directors meets to oversee the progress and direction of the Louisiana Right to Life Federation.